Car-coupling



"(No Model.)

J. W. HANCOCK GAR COUPLING.

INVENTOR Patented Nov. 1,1881.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. HANCOCK, OF UNION, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND GEORGE T. MATTINGLY, OF WAVERLY, KENTUCKY.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,040, dated November 1, 1881.

Application filed June 4, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES \V. HANCOCK, of Union, in the county of Union and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Car-Coupler, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to what are called self-couplers and it consists of draw-heads with flaring and projecting sides and lower tips provided with vertical swinging pendants and transverse coupling-pins, and of a coupling-link, consisting of a flat bar of metal bent downward in the center and having its ends curved or turned downward, to clasp or engage on the coupling-pins.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a partly-sectional side elevation, showing an end of the coupling-link entering a draw-head.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents a draw-head, having projecting and daring sides or cheeks a a, that are designed to serve as bumpers, and also to laterally direct the coupling-link D. The lower lip, b, of said draw-head A is extended downward and forward, its slope or incline reaching within the draw-head,to serve to guide the coupling-link D upward in coupling cars, as shown in Fig. 3, and to enable said coupling-link D to couple high or low, to assume the dependent position most suitable for its effective and secure coupling.

Within a vertical slot, 0, in the top of the draw-head A, a pin or pendant, B, is pivoted, so that it shall swing and hang directly above the coupling-pin C, which is entered transversely through the said draw-head A.

D is the coupling-link, consisting of a simple flat bar of iron or other metal bent downward in the center, as shown at d, and having its ends curved or turned downward, as shown atff, to engage over and upon the coupling- 5 pin C.

(No model.)

To operate the device, one end of the coupling-link D is entered into a draw-head,A, and engaged over a coupling-pin, C, where it is held by a pendant, B, whose points rest on or immediately over the entered end of the said link. Then, in order to couple the cars,the opposite end of the said coupling-link D is entered into the opposite draw-head A, striking the lip 11, and being thereby inclined upward, and striking the pendant B in said draw-head, forces said pendant B up and back, and itself pushes rearward into the recess 9 of the drawhead A, with the end of said pendant B resting upon its upper face. Then,as the cars pull apart, said end of the coupling-link D is drawn 6o downward, and, being still pressed by the pendant B, grasps or engages with the couplingpin C in said draw-head, and is prevented from lifting vertically therefrom enough to uncouple by the continued pressure or presence of the 6 said pendant B, though permitted a free hackward movement.

To uncouple the cars, acoupling-pin, C, must be withdrawn, which may he done from the side of the car, thereby avoiding the risk to life and limb consequent upon going between the cars for that purpose.

Having thus fully described my invention,

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A car-coupler consisting of the drawhead A, having an inclined lower lip, 11, and longitudinal upper slot, 0, the freely-swinging pendant B, pivoted in said slot, the transverse coupling-pin C, and the centrally-bent link D, having curved endsf, as set forth.

2. In a car-coupler, the freely-swingingpendant B, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the coupling-linkis prevented from uncoupling, as set forth.

JAMES W. HANCOCK.

Witnesses:

It. A. MATTINGLY, HENRY VAUPEL. 

